Denarius of Septimius Severus c. 2th - 3th century

Curator: This is a denarius of Septimius Severus, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: It looks…well, like a very old coin. Worn, maybe a little sad, but with an echo of importance. Curator: Indeed. Minted to legitimize Severus's reign after a period of civil war, the coin served as a crucial form of propaganda. The imagery, while worn, projects power and authority. Editor: So, it's like a tiny, pocket-sized power statement. I wonder who held it, what hands it passed through. Did they ever imagine it would end up here? Curator: It's a fascinating question to consider. As material culture, the denarius not only reflects the political climate of the Severan dynasty, but invites us to reflect on the social and economic narratives that shaped its circulation. Editor: I guess even small change can carry a heavy history. It makes you think.